And sone more photos

Attached Images

	IMG_0196.jpg (96.3 KB, 74 views)
	IMG_0199.jpg (90.0 KB, 76 views)
	IMG_0203.jpg (141.2 KB, 86 views)
	IMG_0212.jpg (90.7 KB, 72 views)
	IMG_0215.jpg (101.9 KB, 69 views)

__________________
View from down under

The bus in the photo looks suspiciously like the Forum RV. We do have a few rental spots available during the prime summer season. A deposit will be required to secure a reservation. Post an “I’ll take it” to get the process started.

__________________
John. SWCA #1586

Gallup - second the Motion on Earl’s.
It’s just East of the El Rancho.
Also Richardson’s Trading Post.
Downtown, S Side Old 66 across from Railroad.

__________________
NRA LIFE MEMBER

The weather today was a reversal of yesterdays.it started out clear and warm but then late morning the clouds and the rain gathered in.

We had two short (4-5 mile) interstate runs today, otherwise we were on Route 66 the whole way from Bloomington to St Louis.

In a few places the road is starting to get a bit rough, but most of the way it is in good condition with a speed limit of 55mph. That may sound slow if you are used to freeway and interstate speeds but it is comfortable to maintain for several hours.

I am getting used to the navigation app. The vocal directions still sound robotic, but I am more comfortable anticipating the directions.

We were far too early for the Maple Sirip shop at Funks Grove, and McClean was great for some photos, as was Atlanta and the hot dog muffler man. I also found a poster on the origins of rockabilly next to it.

We spent some time in Springfield. I was able to drive around the State Fair park then we visited Abel’s tomb and house.

An early lunch was called at Cozy Dog. I ordered the large fries to share, and we couldn’t eat them between us.

Henry’s Rabbit Ranch was a little underwhelming, but I bet I'm not the only one wishing the gas price on the sign was still current, .25.9 cents a gallon.

We ended up at the old Chain of Rockies Bridge before doubling back and crossing the Mississippi into St Louis and Missouri.

We are staying here for a few days, partly to rest up from all day driving and partly for a few activities.

Attached Images

	IMG_0216.jpg (129.8 KB, 46 views)
	IMG_0217.jpg (120.7 KB, 46 views)
	IMG_0222.jpg (82.6 KB, 46 views)
	IMG_0226.jpg (129.3 KB, 49 views)
	IMG_0223.jpg (70.6 KB, 49 views)

__________________
View from down under

More photos

Attached Images

	IMG_0235.jpg (112.1 KB, 42 views)
	IMG_0238.jpg (77.4 KB, 43 views)
	IMG_0244.jpg (88.8 KB, 42 views)
	IMG_0245.jpg (107.2 KB, 41 views)
	IMG_0249.jpg (107.3 KB, 40 views)

__________________
View from down under

This afternoon

Attached Images

	IMG_0253.jpg (57.9 KB, 48 views)
	IMG_0256.jpg (59.0 KB, 43 views)
	IMG_0259.jpg (107.3 KB, 48 views)
	IMG_0262.jpg (105.2 KB, 49 views)
	IMG_0264.jpg (94.0 KB, 50 views)

__________________
View from down under

I'll Take It!!
I do get my Mod discount RIGHT???

__________________
SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

What? Mods get subsidized housing? Hmmmmm.

__________________
The best I can with what I got

.

Of course! Fuel and Termite treatment not included though. Might be best to stay off the rear deck though. And please clean the gutters if you park in a wooded area.

__________________
John. SWCA #1586

Luxury housing no less.

__________________
John. SWCA #1586

It has been a quiet two days in St Louis. Karen’s bug has resurrected itself and she is back on antibiotics, which has upset her stomach.

Yesterday I backtracked to Chain of Rocks to get a photo I missed in the rain on Wednesday. Only a short distance from the site I got stuck by a train , stationary across the road, and neither IMAPs or the Ford’s GPS could show me a way around, so I U turned and headed back into St Louis.

I did get to visit the Chuck Berry statue and memorial but the Old Missouri Supreme Court building was closed for renovations when I got there. We did the Arch in 2018 so gave it a miss this time.

In the afternoon I took Karen, who was feeling a bit better, to Ted Drews for a frozen custard (me) and ice cream (Karen) the to Macy’s where she got her sister some polo shirts, but her stomach started acting up,so it was back to the hotel again.

Today my St Louis friend, Gary, came by the hotel. We headed out to a diner for lunch and a good chat that lasted over two hours.

Tomorrow we head back on the road.

Attached Images

	IMG_0268.jpg (81.5 KB, 38 views)
	IMG_0269.jpg (108.8 KB, 39 views)
	IMG_0272.jpg (62.8 KB, 36 views)
	IMG_0273.jpg (97.1 KB, 37 views)
	IMG_0274.jpg (105.1 KB, 37 views)

__________________
View from down under

I remember (many years ago) eating at the Old Spaghetti Factory in St. Louis. I wonder if it is as good as I remember.

__________________
Common sense isn't so common.

It was back to Route 66 today for a rather long (8 1/2 hours) run from St Louis to Springfield MO.

Most of the way was on very narrow two lanes with speeds ranging from 40-55 mph. We stopped for plenty of photos and grabbed a Subway lunch.

There were few surprises today, although the Route 66 app did try to take us over a closed bridge

Some of the highlights were the huge rocking chair at the Fanning store and the Cuba murals. Oh, and then there was the Uranus fudge store. Talk about milking a joke, every second or third word from the staff was a reference to the name.

Tomorrow we head for Joplin. It’s a short rundown May go further, if we can find a hotel.

Attached Images

	IMG_0322.jpg (91.1 KB, 34 views)
	IMG_0296.jpg (101.8 KB, 37 views)
	IMG_0315.jpg (64.8 KB, 40 views)
	IMG_0320.jpg (112.5 KB, 39 views)
	IMG_0324.jpg (109.3 KB, 39 views)

__________________
View from down under

Summer of 1967 my 1st husband was stationed at Ft Leonard Wood, we rented a little house that was right on Route 66 at Doolittle, MO.(West of Rolla) Construction was just starting on Interstate 44.

__________________
_______________
Super Snooper

mmmmm... Ted Drews custard...

It appears that our road trip is over and we will need to plan to return home early.

Just before midday today we were involved in a vehicle collision near Carthage MO.

I have bumps and scrapes but Karen has broken or cracked ribs and a broken finger, as well as a lot of swelling and bruising.

At this point I do not know where we are heading from here.

__________________
View from down under

Very sorry to hear that. Perhaps a local member might be able to offer assistance.

__________________
John. SWCA #1586

Oh no!! I can't like that post. Anything we here can do to help?

Somebody in Missouri needs to go lend a hand. I wish you and your wife a good recovery, but broken ribs are a pain. In my experience, it has been a good three weeks until you can tolerate sneezing, coughing, or laughing. Take care. Sorry your much anticipated trip was cut short.

__________________
Some collect art; I shoot it!

It appears he has help coming. A relative in Oklahoma is coming to pick them up and will help them get home.

Kiwi, I'm so sorry to hear about this. Glad you guys weren't hurt worse. It sucks you have to go home, but at least you can go home. Hope the healing goes quickly and easily.

__________________
The best I can with what I got

This is a copy of a post on my help in Joplin

Karen is slowly getting stronger. They moved her this afternoon from the ICU/HDU to a medical ward. When we spoke to the drs this morning they thought it would be another 24 hours, depending on the reports from the physical therapists, so that is good news.

I got dropped off by an Uber at a Walmart about two miles from here yesterday to get a few things (mainly some mandarins for Karen as she enjoys them and was craving some). Wouldn’t you know it, when it was time to get a ride to the hotel the Uber app was down, and stayed that was for several hours.

I ended up walking back to the hotel in a hospital issue medical sandal. It took almost an hour and today my ankle is swollen again, but at least I can get it into my Aasic shoes if not my hiking sandals.

From now on I will be posting updates on this thread as the help one has, I feel, run its course.

Many thanks to you all for your support, especially hsguy who has been immediately responsive to my texts.

__________________
View from down under

Except for your long walk it sounds like good news! Please take care and thank you for the update!

__________________
John. SWCA #1586

Kiwi, I suggest you download a Lyft app as well. For back up.

Lyft is Uber's competitor, and many drivers drive for both services. They seem in my experience to be the same in ease of use, cost, and availability.

Glad to hear Karen is on the mend.

Karen will be discharged from hospital tomorrow. We will rest up in Joplin until Friday morning when we will make our way to Ponca OK.

The plan at this time is to fly to LA on Tuesday and then home Wednesday night, but it is subject to any travel conditions the Drks place on her travel and approval by our insurance company.

__________________
View from down under

An unfortunate outcome yet hoping Karen continues to mend.
May be a bit trite but all I can wish for you both is safe travels.

A bit of positive news during a long ordeal, best wishes for an uneventful journey home!

__________________
John. SWCA #1586

I am glad to see that Karen is being discharged from hospital. Light at the end of the tunnel!

Kiwi, I am in Calif, so am too far to help. So I send my prayers and best wishes your way by Forum.

We have spent Memorial weekend in Ponca, Oklahoma, where my brothers sister-in-law lives.

Last night our insurance company called and advised that Karen gad been cleared to fly home. Tomorrow morning we will drive to Oklahoma City. Late in the afternoon we will fly to Houston then on home tomorrow night.

Due to Karen’s injuries we have been upgraded to business (Air New Zealand’s top) class. It will probably be the only time we fly in the front cabin. When I checked prices this morning they were $9,980 (NZ) per seat

Karen is adamant her touring days are over. She tells me that I can return but she will staying at home. I am not sure I want to travel solo of even with someone else, but time will see.

__________________
View from down under

Thanks for the update. Have a safe and easy flight home.

__________________
Paul
Salome, AZ

Kiwi, thanks for the update. Glad to hear you guys are heading home. Biz class, top class — after your ordeal, you guys surely deserve it.

(I suggest don't talk to Karen about your next visit quite yet.... Give her some time to recover her equanimity. We aren't going anywhere, and will look forward to your return when it makes sense for you guys.)

Wonderful news after a challenging journey!

__________________
John. SWCA #1586

Happy Trails... hope the rest of your journey is uneventful... and prayers continue for you both..

Tuesday morning we left Ponca City on the way home. Our insurance company had booked us Oklahoma City to Houston and then Houston to Auckland. Before leaving Ponca City I completed the New Zealand Traveller Declaration online, which has been recently introduced to replace the old paper arrival forms.

The first leg was the 90 minute drive to Oklahoma City, which went well. On arrival in OKC we had time for some last minute shopping. Perfume and a replacement Apple watch for Karen, whose Christmas watch had been lost in the crash, and a new MacBook Pro for me, the latter two both from the Apple Store.

On the way to the airport we diverted to take a look at the late Toby Keith's "I Love This Place" bar, and get a few photos. Unfortunately the bar is set some way down a pedestrian only access and neither of us was up to walking any more than we had to, so we drove past and on to the airport.

I was looking for a gas station to fill the rental car up before dropping it off. I saw what looked like a gas station but it was liquified gas only, what we call LPG at home. I found a regular gas station only 2 miles away so we left the airport entranceway and headed there.

Once back I dropped Karen off at the terminal with our luggage while I returned the rental car and got the shuttle back to Karen.

After a final sort out of our luggage, mainly packing Karen's perfume in her checked luggage and my MacBook in my carry-on, we checked in at the United counter. We received boarding passes for both or flights and our bags were checked all the way through.

Getting through the security screening we made our way upstairs we we had a burger for lunch and then made our way to the departure gate. We had several hours go wait for our 5:25 pm flight. That's when Murphy showed up again.

Our flight was delayed, firstly until 5:45 then later and later. Eventually the flight time was pushed out to 7:45 pm, far to late to make our flight to Auckland.

I was on the phone to Air New Zealand, where I was told that Wednesday's Houston - Auckland flight had been cancelled, when United sent me another text. Our flight to Houston had been cancelled and we had been rebooked on a flight that was due to depart at 7:10 pm. We would make our Auckland connection after all.

Right!!!!!

Our new flight was delayed again to 7:25. No problem, but when boarding time came we were informed the aircraft was still en-route from Chicago. We finally departed OKC just after 8 pm. It would be luck to make Houston in time to get across to terminal D and onto our Auckland flight.

It wasn't to be. We landed on Houston half an hour before our flight was due to take off. Could we make it? Well we never got to find out. We were stuck on the tarmac waiting for a boarding gate for almost an hour and 40 minutes. During this time we were shuffled from terminal B to terminal D (good for us) then terminal E. In the end I watched our flight take off through the United aircraft window less than 100 yards away.

Once through the arrival gate we made our way to the baggage carousel, but our bags, which had been checked all the way through to Auckland, were not there.

By the time we got to the exit it was almost 11:30 pm. I had spent every spare moment I had since getting off the United flight trying to book a hotel for the night. In the end the only one I could get was a room at an America's Best Value Motor Inn about 12 minutes away. Every other hotel room nearby disappeared while I was trying to book it.

We found a taxi and made the hotel just after midnight. When the desk person saw Karen's lack of mobility he changed our room from upstairs (no elevator, stairs only) to downstairs, but it required cleaning first.

While waiting for our room I phoned both the insurance company and Karen's sister.

We finally made it to bed just before 1 am.

Wednesday morning we were up just after 8 am. After breakfast I spent almost 2 hours on the phone to Air New Zealand and an app to United trying to find our bags. Finally I was told they had been checked in the airport terminal B near carousel 1.

I Ubered back to the airport and made my way to the place I was told our bags were, only to be told I was in the wrong terminal. I finally found our bags and got back to the hotel. We received our new travel bookings for Thursday evening.

We spent the next day and a half in our hotel room.

I managed to walk to a nearby strip mall to buy Chinese on Wednesday and Popeyes on Thursday. Otherwise we slept, read or watched westerns on the INSP channel. I also updated our traveller declarations with our new flight and arrival times.

4:30 on Thursday our Uber arrived and took us to the airport. The Air New Zealand counter did not open until 6pm. Once it did we were second in line at the priority barding desk (our insurance company had upgraded us to business class). While we could have waited in one of the lounges, the wheelchair pusher would only take us to the boarding gate, where we sat and waited.

Our flight was called and we were boarded behind another person in a wheelchair. I have to a admit flying at the pointy end had its benefits. Called by name by the staff, the seats were comfortable and the service impeccable. Dinner was a five course affair. A drink and freshly roasted nuts, a salmon cracker, soup, a main (roasted lamb shank) and Lester. The food was good, but a bit rich, something that was to come back to haunt me another 4 hours or so.

With dinner over the seat was transformed into a bed and we both slept off and on for around 7 hours. During this time I got a bit of indigestion from the dinner. I then read for the rest of the flight.

We arrived in Auckland but were deplaned at a remote gate. We had to walk down a snaking ramp to a bus where we were driven to the terminal. We arrived at the terminal with less than 45 minutes to make checkin for our flight to Taranaki.

We made it through immigration and customs, but at border control we found our traveller declarations had not been updated. We were sent to the side to fill in paper ones.

Finally through corder control we made it to the shuttle to the domestic terminal and checked in with our bags. While I was changing the last of our US currency, a gate attendant approached Karen about her walker. It needed to be checked in.

We were the last passengers aboard our domestic flight, which went quickly. Landing in new Plymouth we were met by Karen's sisters. We picked up our bags, which only just fitted into the rear of the SUV! Karen's walker, which had traveled with us for five weeks from our arrival in Houston, would not fit in.

Luckily my brother was passing through new Plymouth later that morning and I was able to leave it at the Air New Zealand counter.

By 11:30 Saturday morning (Kiwi time) we were home. A coupe of hours later we were both asleep. Karen got up after a few hours but I slept for around 12 hours, expect for a short period when I got up to make "dinner". Toast for Karen and baked beans for me.

__________________
View from down under

Your home and you have lots of stories to tell!

__________________
14 S&W Revs none with locks!

As Grandma Muggins would say “Bless your heart . . . “ Very pleased you’re finally home . . .

__________________
Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I feel for you. The last three times I flew each one turned into a Chinese fire drill. I then said no more. If I can't drive there I am not going. Been 6 years now and from what I have seen flying is becoming much worse.

Hope Karen recovers quickly, and you both can rest up!

__________________
Common sense isn't so common.

Whew!

Glad you are, finally, back home safe and, mostly, sound!

Wow, glad you made it home more or less safe and sound.

Your trip home reminds me of the last time Mrs. Faulkner and I went to Alaska. We've traveled a great deal via commercial air travel through the years but we didn't realize how physically fit and mobile you really needed to be to do so until the after the symptoms of Parkinson's disease started to slow her down a bit. We realized she did not have the endurance for all of the delays and gate changes and chasing down wheel chairs and luggage. I am quite long suffering but I was at the limit of my frustration level and when we got home I told her our traveling by commercial air days were over.

__________________
- Change it back -

Faulkner,

Karen has told me that she no longer wishes to travel. She has said that I can go, either solo or with someone else (one of my brothers or nephews perhaps), but to be honest, I am not sure that travelling without her would be the same. Also I am hesitant to leave her, even with my stepson in the house, for weeks at a time.

I am not sure if or when I will return to America, but the place has got into my blood and it will always remain a special place for me.

Once again, thank you for reaching out to me when we were in Joplin. You may never know just how much it helped.

__________________
View from down under

Thank you Muss.

Your friendship and offer of help when I needed it was more than appreciated. Maybe one day we can meet up again.

__________________
View from down under

Thanks for the update. I hope Karen heals quickly.

__________________
Paul
Salome, AZ

A challenging end to a challenging journey but glad you are home and hope Karen is recovering! When you announced your travel plan home I was concerned that the storms in Texas and power outages at the major airports would be a challenge as they were. Forget the beans and toast and go get a proper pie! As a side note, I may be returning to Aotearoa on June 13 as it has gotten into my blood, plans are a bit up in the air now so to speak but a friend in Turangi is tormenting me with the fishing reports. Take care. John

__________________
John. SWCA #1586

Thanks for all the posts. You handled the adversity well. Travelling has gotten a lot less fun over the last ten years. Luckily, for us in the states we have lots of beautiful places you can reach by car, but more than our share of bad drivers.

__________________
Kind regards, Heinz

Too bad about the bad luck that made you rush out of Oklahoma City. I would have liked to have met you and take you and your wife out for a nice meal.

Glad you are home safe and with all your luggage. I suspect your issues at Houston were created by the strong storms that had blown through a couple of days before your departure. It can take the airlines that long to get sorted out. You may guess how I know. As a wise-old former coworker told me in the late 80s, "If you have time to spare, go by air." Trouble is, there is no other way to many places. Coming from the UK, I know about this.

__________________
Release the Kraken

John,

Please let us know if you do come.

We would come across to see you if Karen is up to travelling again by then.

__________________
View from down under

Having spent a lot of "wait times" en route to NZ and also OZ including seeing my planes for Brisbane and Sydney leaving the tarmac at LAX as I arrived from the US East Coast, more than once!!! I can appreciate some of the "fun and games" both of you went through. Glad to see you are now back in Kiwi land. One of my more "incident-laden" operations whilst working for Uncle Sam, was ending up on a round the world trip that was not designed to be one, when going to a meeting in Indonesia when the US Gov closed in the late 1990s. Nothing like landing back in Dulles airport as the gov't opened five days later....Dave_n